Grow 19 Projects
Kent CRP and Grow 19
In 2019 Kent CRP worked with Five Acre Wood School to redevelop the front of Snodland Station. Following the success of this project and the community links between us, it made perfect sense to also form a partnership with Grow 19, particularly as some of the students from Five Acre Wood have now enrolled at Grow 19.
Grow 19 is a Further Education College for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The college was set up by Five Acre Wood to support students between 19 and 25. All learners have an Education Health Care Plan.
In 2020, Grow 19 constructed planters on the platforms at Wateringbury station for our station adoption group, repeating this successful work at Cuxton station in 2021.
We have kept in touch and were delighted that their students could help prepare the site for our Community Mural at Maidstone Barracks in 2023.
Station adoption
In September 2023, Grow 19 became station adopters at West Malling. Ten students and three of their tutors used their first station adoption day to plant bulbs and litter-pick.
The students worked diligently until the bank beside the platform was covered in bulbs. The technique used was naturalisation which means as nature would grow, therefore the bulbs were randomly planted as opposed to being planted in straight rows. Some students also participated with a litter pick of the whole area leaving the platform looking nice and tidy.
This planting and future planned work will support a City and Guilds unit of work for Level 1 practical horticulture skills which the students are studying – we can’t wait for spring to see the daffodils!
We are very grateful to Joanne Wells (Grow 19 Tutor) for organising the station adoption and to Matt Fraser (Southeastern Community Relations Mgr), Gary Watson (Station Manager) and Naomi (Communigrow) for supporting this valuable event.
“We learnt something new planting bulbs.” – Kyle student
“I found it good.” – Ryan student
“Successful job of planting bulbs on platform 2 with the others – thumbs up – I liked doing it.” – Elliot student
“It was fun, Alex and I like the clicky pens, it was good.” – Vincent student
“It was a good opportunity for the students to learn the new skill of planting bulbs. The technique used was naturalisation. This experience will support a unit of work for Level 1 practical horticulture skills – City and Guilds.” – Jo Wells Tutor
During 2024, Grow 19 made a successful bid to Southeastern’s Customer and Community Fund, a new initiative aimed at supporting projects that enhance stations and make local rail services more sustainable. The funding enabled Grow 19 to construct new planters outside the station, adding some colour, protecting the pedestrian forecourt areas from dangerous fly-parking of vehicles and helping the students to develop practical construction skills.
Train Travel Training 2025
Nine SEN students and their 4 tutors undertook a train travel training journey to Hollingbourne station’s Signal Box Café. All students were between the ages of 18 and 25. At the café, some of the students practiced life skills by ordering and paying for their own refreshments – hot chocolate being the most popular order on this chilly October morning. They sat to enjoy their refreshments and practised their socialising skills.
At Maidstone East station the students learnt how to read the electronic display boards to find the correct platform and train time, etc. they also learnt the reason for the yellow line and why they should split into smaller groups when entering the train. Whilst on the train the students were introduced to the friendly and approachable train manager Andy who assured them, they could always ask someone like him working on the train for help. Whist at Hollingbourne station the students learnt about the cycle rails, train ramps, information point and the defibrillator. The trip was co-created with Grow 19’s tutor Jo to ensure the objectives, and the needs of the students were catered for.
All students said they would feel more confident when travelling on a train, they would know where to gain assistance if needed and all said they would like to travel on a train again soon; however, some felt they would need someone to help them to buy their tickets and ensure they were on the correct train.
Jo, the tutor who had attended a previous trip last year is keen to receive a Southeastern travel permit to be able to undertake independent train travel training with her students. Currently Jo is undertaking bus travel training as this is more affordable than train training. The cost of train tickets has prevented train travel training, Southeastern has agreed to provide a permit for train travel training purposes only. Jo is delighted and thinks she will be able to encourage the students to be even more confident rail users and believes some of her students could potentially become independent rail users.
Kent CRP would like to thank Julie and her volunteers at The Signal Box café for making us all feel so welcome and to Southeastern for funding these travel training sessions. The tutor has asked about a trip next year with possible walks along the North Downs Way from one station to another.
A strong collaborative relationship between Grow 19 and The Signal Box café has been developing over the last 12 months. More able students from Grow 19 are being offered a 1 year supported ‘work experience apprenticeship’ in the café – working 1 day per week. Students’ skills are developing at different rates. Hayden is quickly developing into a great asset; he told me he is really enjoying his work their washing up and preparing food. Julie, the café a manager has informed me that Hayden’s communication and kitchen skills have developed a great deal since spending time with the team and she is going to offer him a paid position on a Sat. Hayden is a valuable role model for the visiting students, and they really appreciated seeing him in the café during their travel training trip as his role is something they can aspire to. The Hollingbourne project is organically growing stronger with further hugely beneficial spin off projects for the local and not so local communities, more so than we could have ever originally planned for. Kent CRP has a great deal to be proud of here!
Kent CRP would like to thank Matt Fraser and Southeastern for funding these invaluable travel training sessions. This is the fourth of 6 trips planned on the Kent Downs Line this year. With 3 tutors now upskilled to lead their own train travel training trips, supported by the generous Southeastern travel permit, it is estimated that over double this number of trips will take place on the KDL by the end of the year.
